8 FIRMS AMONG BEST FOR WORKING MOMS

THE HARTFORD COURANT

Eight state companies were ranked among the best in the country in terms of working conditions for working mothers, according to a survey conducted by Working Mother magazine.

Xerox Corp. of Stamford was among the 10 best companies for working mothers, according to the magazine, which surveyed corporate policies on such options as job sharing, day care and flexible work hours, along with pay and career opportunities for working mothers.

Aetna Life & Casualty Co. of Hartford, Champion International Corp. of Stamford, CIGNA Corp. of Bloomfield, Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Co. of Hartford, Pitney Bowes Inc. of Stamford, Travelers Corp. of Hartford and United Technologies Corp. of Hartford were listed among the top 100 companies for working mothers.

Xerox set aside $1.5 million this year to expand child care centers, recruit and train care providers and support school-age care and summer camps, the magazine said.

Aetna, CIGNA and Travelers were also cited by the magazine for good job flexibility for working mothers.

"The many insurance giants, including Allstate, CIGNA and Travelers, have reduced their staffs; those who made the list strengthened their array of work/family programs," Working Mother reported.

Aetna, for instance, allows about 2,000 employees to work at home, the magazine reported.

The chief executive of NationsBank, Hugh McColl, was named the magazine's "Family Champion."

NationsBank has set aside about $35 million to support child and elder care by building child care centers, starting summer and after-school camps and providing money for nighttime child care. NationsBank is one of the few corporations in the country to create a staff to develop and manage family programs, the magazine said